Quote: Ben @ November 11 2008, 7:56 PM GMTI don't think enough people will be on the Mirror's side to make any sort of change. So, Lee, calm down and have a nice cup of tea.
I am calmer now. I just detest what the Mirror's trying to do. And anyway, there's a special button on all TV remotes that gets rid of swearing. It's the one marked "off".
As in "f**k".
It's a moral panic they come and go.
We should set up our own completely irrational moral panic.
Richard Littlejohn articles can give you herpes?
Quote: Nil Putters @ November 11 2008, 5:43 PM GMTI f**kin' loves swearing. I use 'f**k' like 'um'. I hate people who get offended by it. It a word! That's all!!
Fair enough, Putters. But we need there to be some sort of taboo about swearing for the words to have any force.
"Another cup of lovely tea, vicar?" is quite different to "Another cup of f**king tea, vicar?"
The trouble with swamping a script with the 'F' word is that it's value as a swear word perse is somewhat devalued. It usually isn't necessary to pepper dialogue with that particular word or indeed the 'C' word in an effort to get a point across strongly. Some might say that do do so would indicate an inherent inabilty to express oneself properly.
I agree, Brybo. Some people use swearing as punctuation. It has more effect when rarely used. Sometimes it seems that it's compulsory to swear, in programmes where it is imappropriate. I don't agree with Lee, though, if you don't want to hear constant use of the F word then your only option shouldn't be to turn it off, you shouldn't have such a limited option.
I think the so-called watershed should be put back, to say 10.30. Programmes which include it but don't really need it could then exclude it and be shown before that, but where they want to keep it, then they would have to settle for a later timeslot, with consequently lower ratings.
I don't care whether the Mirror has a campaign or not - quite a few TV Execs started this ball rolling (including pronographer in chief Michael Grade), so blame them. For what it's worth, I agree with them. Is there really a need for a chef to say f**k 40 times in a cookery programme? There was a time when he could have done so, but they would have all been bleeped out. What's happened to the bleeping bleepers? Have they all been bleeping well sacked? Most of the time a good well-placed bleep would do the same job as the swear word in these entertainment programmes, and it wouldn't offend a large number of people. It would also reserve proper good swearing for when it has the most impact.
Quote: Bad dog @ November 12 2008, 8:57 AM GMTI agree, Brybo. Some people use swearing as punctuation. It has more effect when rarely used. Sometimes it seems that it's compulsory to swear, in programmes where it is imappropriate. I don't agree with Lee, though, if you don't want to hear constant use of the F word then your only option shouldn't be to turn it off, you shouldn't have such a limited option.
I think the so-called watershed should be put back, to say 10.30. Programmes which include it but don't really need it could then exclude it and be shown before that, but where they want to keep it, then they would have to settle for a later timeslot, with consequently lower ratings.
So what you're essentially saying is all shows before 10:30 pm must have unrealistic, sugar-coated scripts? Like a gritty new cop drama where a drug-crazed robber bursts into a bank brandishing a sawn-off shotgun and shouts "Everyone on on the flippin' floor, you rotters!" Or maybe we should just go back to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmRTUNh1vPo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcJ61KEynm4
This is it for real.
Swearing has a place when it's dramatically valid, which is quite often.
Aka the old Ben Elton joke that Grange Hill was the school where nobody swore.
But Jamie Oliver looks like a dick when he swears as do many other.
I'd love to see Dr Who the f**k are looking c**ting Dalek?
I'm against censorship, always have been, having suffered the banning and cutting of many of my favourite films by the BBFC over the years, and the ridiculous timeslot-based editing by the likes of ITV (which cuts movies that go out at 2am), and C5. However, sometimes when you see & hear stuff on TV in programmes that don't need it, you just think 'give it a rest.'
In such a case as that you give, Lee, you don't HAVE to have anything like that. I'm sure The Sweeney had no f words, and no references to silly rotters or anything like that, and it was still tough stuff.
Quote: sootyj @ November 12 2008, 10:07 AM GMThttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcJ61KEynm4
This is it for real.
Swearing has a place when it's dramatically valid, which is quite often.
Aka the old Ben Elton joke that Grange Hill was the school where nobody swore.
But Jamie Oliver looks like a dick when he swears as do many other.
I'd love to see Dr Who the f**k are looking c**ting Dalek?
That Scarface overdubbing thing is exactly what I'm talking about. It actually does ruin the movie.
I don't understand these idiotic parents who actually think 12 year old Timmy skips off in the morning to a school where the f-word is never spoken. When I was at school it was every other word in the playground. There's no way I'd say it in front of my parents of course but that's down to a respect thing.
I have my swearing limits - I mean the Gordon Ramsay expletives sometimes seem OTT but for God's sake the show's called "The F Word". If you don't like swearing, just don't watch!
It's like somebody writing to the ITC and saying "I'm writing to complain about a programme that featured shocking nudity that I saw last night, whilst perusing the "Red Hot Pussy Club" channel."
Quote: Lee Henman @ November 11 2008, 5:36 PM GMTDo we really want to go back to the 1950s?
Yes please.
Quote: Lee Henman @ November 11 2008, 5:36 PM GMTI'm quite angry about this. It's directly threatening realism and freedom on our TV screens.
No it's not.
Quote: Bad dog @ November 12 2008, 10:14 AM GMTI'm against censorship, always have been, having suffered the banning and cutting of many of my favourite films by the BBFC over the years, and the ridiculous timeslot-based editing by the likes of ITV (which cuts movies that go out at 2am), and C5. However, sometimes when you see & hear stuff on TV in programmes that don't need it, you just think 'give it a rest.'
In such a case as that you give, Lee, you don't HAVE to have anything like that. I'm sure The Sweeney had no f words, and no references to silly rotters or anything like that, and it was still tough stuff.
The Sweeney as I remember had loads of "bastards" and "arses" and "slags" and "buggers" etc peppered throughout the dialogue. No "f**ks" but is a "f**k" really worse than a "bastard"?
I would say the f word is worse than bastard.
Quote: chipolata @ November 12 2008, 10:22 AM GMTYes please.
No it's not.
Yes it is. Nobody dare say anything edgy at the moment. We have press and politicians and idiotic, sheep-like members of the public all jumping on this no-profanity bandwagon and it's already affecting programming decisions. I was talking to a producer only yesterday who was worried the new comedy he's been developing will be shelved because of all this shit.
So as I say, yes it is.
Quote: Lee Henman @ November 12 2008, 10:29 AM GMTSo as I say, yes it is.
I agree.
Though I dare say the current panic will blow over.